Biden's Doubts on Afghan Strategy Wins Allies

VP to review progress in security handover

(NEWSER) - The vice president has made a surprise visit to Afghanistan. Joe Biden is in the country to review progress as allied forces turn security over to Afghan hands, the AP reports. He’s set to meet with President Karzai and US commander David Petraeus, the White House says; he’ll also greet troops and civilian personnel and visit an Afghan Army training center. He's due to visit Islamabad later this week to announce more US aid for Pakistan. More»

VP claimed departure 'come hell or high water'

(NEWSER) - Joe Biden was in the spotlight this weekend for saying the US would follow its Iraq model and be “totally” out of Afghanistan by 2014, “come hell or high water.” Well, that’s just wrong, writes Justin Elliott in Salon . For one thing, withdrawal from Iraq hasn’t meant “total withdrawal.” As for 2014 in Afghanistan, a NATO rep called that a “goal,” not a “deadline.” More»

Bob Woodward book reveals deep fault lines over war policy

(NEWSER) - The Obama White House is a simmering pot of anger and disagreement, with too many bickering chefs handling of the war in Afghanistan, according to a new book by Bob Woodward that exposes deep rifts in the administration. Here, via the New York Times , are some of the juicy bits from Obama's Wars:

• Vice-President Joe Biden thinks Richard Holbrooke, the administration's special rep for Afghanistan and Pakistan, is “the most egotistical bastard I’ve ever met."

'Skeptic-in-chief' Biden challenges McChrystal's call for more troops

(NEWSER) - Gen. Stanley McChrystal's call to beef up the war effort in Afghanistan is proving a tough sell with senior administration officials. White House advisers challenged many aspects of the commander's assessment at a meeting this week, including his belief that al-Qaeda would again find sanctuary in Afghanistan if the Taliban regains control. Joe Biden played the role of "skeptic-in-chief," one official tells the Washington Post. More»

(NEWSER) - President Obama's advisers are divided over the Pentagon's expected request for more troops to be deployed to Afghanistan, reports the New York Times. Joe Biden is leading the just-say-no camp, arguing that the mission in Pakistan is more important. The opposition includes envoy Richard Holbrooke, who says US troops are vital to the task of protecting Afghan civilians. It's a "healthy debate," said one administration official. More»